The Osun State government has withdrawn its suit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) over withheld local government funds, saying the case has been overtaken by events.
The Osun State Attorney-General has withdrawn the suit filed against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) over the release of withheld local government allocations to chairmen and councillors sacked by the court.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, counsel to the Osun AG, Musibau Adetumbi (SAN), informed the court that the suit had been overtaken by events since the funds in question had already been moved out of the CBN. “Our primary aim was to safeguard the money,” he said, adding that continuing the case “would amount to an academic exercise.”
Counsel to the defendants, Dr. Muritala Abdulrasheed (SAN) for the CBN, and Tajudeen Oladoja (SAN) for the AGF, did not oppose the withdrawal but faulted the plaintiff’s affidavit, describing some statements as “inaccurate” and “in bad faith.” They urged the court to strike out certain paragraphs and sought costs of ₦10 million against the plaintiff.
Adetumbi, however, argued that a notice of discontinuance does not attract costs.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to October 29 for a ruling on the plaintiff’s withdrawal application and other pending motions.